AB 1413 by Assembly Member Anthony Portantino, a measure that proposes to restate current CSU policy and allow staff of ex-officio members to vote as a full member of the Board, was taken up in Senate Appropriations last Wednesday.

When the measure was first taken up for a vote, Senator Jenny Oropeza spoke in opposition to this measure. Senator Oropeza, while a student at California State University, Long Beach, was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Trustees of the CSU system. Despite this measure not having a significant fiscal impact to the state, and because of the Senator’s opposition, the measure at first failed to advance out of committee.

When the measure was placed on call with a vote of 6-2 (the committee needs 9 of the 17 members to pass a measure) there were three Democratic members who were present but abstained from voting for the measure. When the measure was lifted, the measure received the votes needed (9-3) to pass out.

It has been reported that the author has agreed to address the portion of the bill that allows ex-officio members to have staff vote in their absence, potentially by deleting that provision altogether. That amendment will likely have to take place on the floor of the Senate and the CSU will continue to oppose this measure and watch it as it is amended.

Below is an unofficial vote summary for the committee (note that Oropeza did ultimately vote for the measure).

Senate Appropriations Committee
(AYES 9. NOES 3.) (PASS)

AYES
Torlakson, Cedillo, Corbett, Kuehl, Oropeza, Simitian, Steinberg, Wyland, Yee
NOES
Cox, Ashburn, Runner
ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING
Aanestad, Battin, Dutton, Florez, Ridley-Thomas